Beginnings: 

School health program was established in 1990 to offer medical and social services to schools in Jerusalem. It started in four schools providing medical check ups, health education and promotion activities, and first aid services through schools' clinics. Today, Program activities cover (62) schools and (4) kindergartens which shows the advantage progress in this program.

General project objectives:

 1. HWC lunched this program in line with efforts of all institutions in Jerusalem to enhance the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem through community mobilization and empowerment.

 2. Improvement of health care services offered to school children.

 3. Health awareness and education in support of creating a better school environment.

 4. Establishing strong network for collaboration and coordination with society institution (ministry of health and higher education and NGOs. 

Operational objectives:

 1. Screening and early detection of medical problems including  vision and hearing problems.

 2. Health education and promotion

 3. Improvement of school environment with special focus on school cafeteria

 4. Prevention of infectious diseases by providing vaccination.

Staff:

The school program has 12 members including program director, deputy director, general practitioner, dentist, and 8 social workers. HWC is committed to develop and build on personnel skills through capacity building and training. 

Program activities:

 HWC's school program in Jerusalem comes from our basic concern and interest in Jerusalem which suffers from the systematic negligence of the Israeli occupation authorities. Program's activities cover 62 schools in the capital of Palestine benefiting about 25,000 students. 

The diverse program activities include:

 1.Medical and first aid services with referral system.

 2. Heath education and awareness raising for students and parents regarding school health environment.

 3. Prevention methods against infectious disease.

 4. Enhance and encourage community participations in schools activities especially activating parents' role in school health activities.

 5. Identify school children with special health problems that need follow up and monitoring.

 6. Identify and deal with school children with special learning disabilities.

 7. Enhance students' role and participation in the learning process.

 8. Empower students to play active and effective role towards their environmental health.

School Health Program Scope of Work:

 1. Complete supervision in 14 schools.

 2. Partial supervision in 29 schools.

 3. National vaccination campaign in 62 schools

 Unified national vaccination program: